Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Pakistan Confirms Capture of Top Taliban Commander

   VOA News 17 February 2010

   The Pakistani military has confirmed that top Taliban commander Mullah
   Abdul Ghani Baradar is in custody.
   A  statement  from  Pakistan's  military  released  Wednesday  said  a
   "detailed  identification  procedure"  showed  that  Baradar  is among
   several people recently arrested.
   U.S.  and  Pakistani  officials  have said Baradar was captured in the
   Pakistani  city of Karachi in a joint operation involving intelligence
   agents from both countries.
   Mullah  Abdul Ghani Baradar, an Afghan national, holds the second most
   important position within the Taliban, after only the group's founder,
   Mullah Muhammad Omar.
   Officials  describe  him as the most important Taliban figure captured
   since the war in Afghanistan began in late 2001.
   U.S.  President  Barack  Obama  is  scheduled  to  meet  with top U.S.
   officials in Washington Wednesday to discuss Afghanistan.
   Attendees  at  the  meeting  are  to include Vice President Joe Biden,
   Secretary  of  State Hillary Clinton, leaders of the armed forces and,
   by video conference, the ambassadors to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Karl
   Eikenberry and Anne Patterson respectively.
   Baradar's  arrest  was a major victory for the U.S.-led effort against
   Taliban   insurgents.    Analysts   his   capture  suggests  increased
   cooperation between U.S. and Pakistani intelligence agencies.
   In  the  past,  U.S.  officials  have  accused Pakistan's intelligence
   agencies  of  maintaining ties with the Afghan Taliban leadership, and
   of  being  reluctant to pursue fugitives in Taliban sanctuaries inside
   Pakistan.  Authorities in Islamabad denied those claims.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

.